Policy Owner: Ryan Yeoman, Managing Director
Approved by: Board of Directors
Date adopted: 03/09/2026
Version: 1.0
Next review: September 2027, or sooner if required
Applies to: Directors, employees, workers and office operations
1. Purpose
Thrive Recruitment Group Plymouth Ltd (“Thrive”) is committed to managing waste responsibly and reducing the environmental impact of its business activities. As a small recruitment business, our direct waste generation is relatively limited; however, we recognise that responsible use of resources, waste prevention, reuse and recycling form part of good environmental and business practice.
This policy provides a proportionate framework for Thrive’s office and recruitment operations and demonstrates our approach to waste management for clients, contracting authorities, suppliers and other stakeholders.
2. Scope
This policy applies to Thrive’s directors, employees and anyone carrying out office-based activities on behalf of the Company. Temporary workers placed with schools, SEND settings, alternative provision, colleges or other clients are expected to follow the waste, recycling and environmental arrangements of the premises at which they are working.
Where a client has site-specific requirements, those requirements take priority while the individual is working at that site, provided they are lawful and safe.
3. Our waste management principles
Thrive will apply the waste hierarchy wherever reasonably practicable, giving priority to preventing waste before considering reuse, recycling, recovery and, lastly, disposal.
- Prevent unnecessary waste by using electronic documents and digital processes wherever practical.
- Reduce consumption of paper, printing materials, stationery and other office resources.
- Reuse equipment and materials where they remain safe, suitable and functional.
- Recycle paper, cardboard, packaging and other recyclable materials through the facilities available to the Company.
- Dispose of residual waste responsibly and use appropriate specialist routes for items that should not enter general waste.
4. Paper and printing
Recruitment and compliance activities can involve significant documentation. Thrive aims to minimise unnecessary paper use while ensuring that legal, safeguarding, audit and client requirements continue to be met.
- Documents will be shared, reviewed and stored electronically where appropriate.
- Printing will be limited to situations where a physical copy is genuinely required.
- Where suitable, staff should use efficient print settings and avoid duplicate or unnecessary copies.
- Confidential documents containing personal data must not be placed in ordinary recycling or general waste unless they have first been securely destroyed.
5. Confidential and data-bearing waste
Because Thrive processes personal information relating to candidates, workers, employees, referees and client contacts, confidential waste requires particular care. Paper records containing personal or special category data must be securely destroyed when disposal is authorised and retention is no longer required.
Electronic devices, storage media or other equipment that may contain personal or commercially sensitive information must be securely erased or destroyed before disposal or reuse. Waste handling must therefore be consistent with Thrive’s Data Protection Policy and information security arrangements.
6. Electrical and electronic equipment
Thrive will seek to extend the useful life of computers, phones, monitors, printers and other electrical equipment where this is practical and secure. Equipment that is no longer required should, where appropriate, be reused, returned, recycled or disposed of through a suitable route rather than being placed in general waste.
Any disposal of electrical or electronic equipment will take account of applicable waste requirements and the need to protect confidential information.
7. Office consumables and packaging
- Office supplies will be purchased in sensible quantities to reduce avoidable waste.
- Reusable products will be preferred where they are practical and appropriate.
- Packaging will be reused or recycled where suitable facilities are available.
- Printer cartridges, batteries and similar items will be recycled or disposed of using appropriate collection arrangements where available.
- Staff should avoid unnecessary single-use items where a reasonable reusable alternative is available.
8. Suppliers and purchasing
When selecting products and suppliers, Thrive may take environmental considerations into account where they are relevant and proportionate. This can include durability, unnecessary packaging, recycled content, opportunities for reuse, and whether products can be recycled or responsibly disposed of at the end of their useful life.
Environmental considerations will be balanced with quality, safeguarding, information security, value for money and the operational needs of the business.
9. Client sites and temporary workers
Thrive does not control the waste arrangements at client premises. Workers supplied by Thrive must follow the client’s local procedures for general waste, recycling, confidential waste and any specialist waste streams relevant to their assignment.
Where a worker is unsure how an item should be disposed of, they should seek guidance from the appropriate person at the client setting rather than disposing of it incorrectly.
10. Responsibilities
The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for this policy. Ryan Yeoman, Managing Director, is responsible for its day-to-day implementation and review.
Everyone working for or on behalf of Thrive is expected to use resources responsibly, follow available recycling and disposal arrangements, protect confidential information and raise any waste-management concern that may present an environmental, legal, data-protection or health and safety risk.
11. Monitoring and improvement
Thrive will keep its waste-management approach proportionate to the size and nature of the business. As part of the annual policy review, the Company will consider whether further practical improvements can be made.
The Company’s waste-management objectives are to:
- maintain a digital-first approach to recruitment and administration where appropriate;
- minimise unnecessary printing and paper consumption;
- ensure confidential and data-bearing waste is securely destroyed;
- make reasonable use of available recycling arrangements;
- reduce avoidable single-use office materials and packaging; and
- review waste practices annually and act on material issues identified.
12. Compliance and related policies
Thrive will comply with applicable environmental, waste, data-protection and health and safety requirements relevant to its activities. This policy should be read alongside the Company’s Data Protection Policy, Health and Safety Policy and other relevant operational procedures.
13. Approval and review
This Waste Management & Reduction Policy was adopted by the Board of Directors of Thrive Recruitment Group Plymouth Ltd on 03/09/2026. It will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner where legislation, contractual requirements, business activities or identified environmental risks change.
Signed: R.Yeoman
Name: Ryan Yeoman
Position: Managing Director
Date: 03/09/2026